Last night, I was an Expert Retail/Arts Panelist for the Women’s Initiative Fast Track Incubator Program in San Francisco. This pilot program has taken several women from dreaming of being business owners to creating prosperous businesses through training, mentoring and setting high standards and expectations. I was very proud to serve on the panel that reviewed their portfolios. What an inspiration these women are!
The Women’s Initiative has offices in San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara and Marin Counties. Their clients are high potential, low income women in the Bay Area who intend to become or currently are small business owners. They provide training, individual consultations, events and access-to-market opportunities to their basic training graduates.
According to their statistics gathered over the last 20 years, for every dollar invested, $30 are generated for the Bay Area. Average annual income for their graduates increases by $20,000, and the women who participated in their training last year will bring in an estimated $11.7 million in 2008. That’s a stimulus package!
I encourage you to get involved through donations, as a mentor or volunteer. This was my first involvement with them. It won’t be my last!
10. June 2009 at 6:38 pm
It’s good to be reminded that we need to balance our lives and give back. Nice to know the program is working.